Howard Castle

Howard Castle

Location: 15 miles (24 km) North of York  Map

Tel. 01653 648444
House: Open: Mar- Oct: 11am- 4pm daily
Grounds: 10am- 4:30pm daily
Entrance Fee: House: adults £9.50, senior/ student £8.50, children £6.50
Grounds: adult £6.50, children £4.50

www.castlehoward.co.uk

 

Description

Castle Howard is a magnificent Baroque country house located in the village of Henderskelfe, North Yorkshire, England, approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of York. Built between 1699 and 1712, it serves as the ancestral seat of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family and spans over 1,000 acres of parkland, including lakes, woodlands, and follies. Renowned for its grand architecture, opulent interiors, and sweeping landscapes, it is a Grade I listed building and a key example of early 18th-century English Baroque design. Owned by Castle Howard Estate Limited and managed by the Hon. Nicholas Howard and his wife Victoria, the estate has been in the family for over 300 years and attracts visitors for its historical depth, artistic treasures, and role in popular culture, including as a filming location for Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton.

 

History

Origins and Construction
The estate's history dates to 1577 when Lord William Howard, third son of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, married Elizabeth Dacre, acquiring the Henderskelfe lands in Yorkshire alongside Naworth Castle in Cumberland. The present house was commissioned in 1699 by Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, a diplomat and Grand Tour enthusiast, who sought to create a palatial residence rivaling Versailles. Construction began under the direction of playwright-turned-architect Sir John Vanbrugh, with assistance from Nicholas Hawksmoor, and continued until 1712, though interiors like the Long Gallery were not completed until 1811. At its zenith under the 7th Earl of Carlisle in the 19th century, the estate encompassed over 13,000 acres, including villages such as Welburn and Bulmer, and was served by a dedicated railway station from 1845 to the 1950s.

Ownership, Inheritance, and Challenges
The house remained a Howard family seat, with inheritance passing matrilineally after the 9th Earl's death in 1911 to Geoffrey Howard, his fifth son. Later earls favored Naworth Castle as their northern base, but Castle Howard endured as a symbol of aristocratic life. Diarist Henry 'Chips' Channon noted in 1923 its "decaying magnificence" amid vast galleries and libraries. A catastrophic fire on 9 November 1940, during its use as a wartime girls' school, gutted over 20 rooms, including the central dome, Great Hall, dining room, and staterooms, destroying 20 paintings and several mirrors. Post-war restoration, led by George Howard, reopened the house to the public in 1952, with the dome rebuilt by 1962 and ceilings recreated by artist Scott Medd. Ongoing conservation reflects the family's commitment, including a 2009 ground-source heat recovery system that halved heating costs.

Recent Developments
As of 2025, the estate is undergoing a "21st Century Renaissance" project, restoring fire-damaged areas like the Tapestry Drawing Room—rebuilt from bare bricks by architect Francis Terry with original 1706 John Vanderbank tapestries depicting the four seasons. This includes new ceilings, floors, chimneys, and paneling, plus rehanging Grand Tour-era paintings and revitalizing the 1870s grand staircase. An entire east wing remains unrestored, prompting sales like the family's Fabergé collection. Additionally, the 440-acre Bog Hall Habitat Bank initiative focuses on rewilding for biodiversity over 30 years.

 

Architecture and Layout

Castle Howard exemplifies English Baroque architecture, blending grandeur with drama, designed primarily by Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor. The H-shaped plan features a central block with a 70-foot (21 m) domed Great Hall rising through three stories, flanked by symmetrical east and west wings projecting along a north-south axis. The north entrance facade uses Doric pilasters for a robust appearance, while the south garden front employs Corinthian columns for elegance. Construction progressed in phases: the East Wing (1701–1703), central block and dome (1703–1706), and west garden front (1707–1709). Interiors boast opulent Baroque details—gilded coronets, cherubs, urns, and cyphers—painted by Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, including the recreated dome ceiling post-1940 fire.
Key rooms include the Great Hall with its astronomical ceiling and marble columns; the Long Gallery (1811), a 120-foot (37 m) space for family portraits; and the Tapestry Drawing Room, now restored with period furnishings. The West Wing, started in the 1730s by Sir Thomas Robinson in contrasting Palladian style, was completed in 1811 by Charles Heathcote Tatham. The fire left the East Wing as a roofed shell, preserving its skeletal drama for visitors. Modern adaptations, like the heat recovery system beneath the lake, blend sustainability with heritage.

 

Gardens and Estate

The 1,000-acre estate is a masterpiece of landscape design, evolving from formal Baroque gardens to an English landscape park. South of the house, terraced formal gardens exploit the ridge's topography, with lakes on either side and vistas framed by follies. Key features include the Temple of the Four Winds (1728–1731, by Vanbrugh), a domed pavilion symbolizing the winds; the Mausoleum (1728–1730, by Hawksmoor), a neoclassical tomb for the Howards; and the Obelisk (1714), a 72-foot (22 m) Egyptian-style monument. Ray Wood, an ancient woodland east of the house, features restored 18th-century walls and diverse plantings, while the Walled Garden hosts ornamental roses and borders.
Other follies dot the grounds: The Pyramid (restored 2015), Carrmire Gate, and monuments in Pretty Wood like Hawksmoor's Four Faces. The 127-acre Yorkshire Arboretum, managed by a charitable trust, showcases global tree collections. The estate's scale historically supported self-sufficiency, with villages and farms, and today emphasizes conservation, including dog-friendly trails and biodiversity projects.

 

Significance and Preservation

Castle Howard holds immense cultural value as Britain's finest Baroque stately home, influencing landscape architecture and aristocratic patronage. Its Grade I listing extends to gardens and structures, though some, like follies, appear on the Heritage at Risk Register. Filming has amplified its fame: as Brideshead in the 1981 ITV series and 2008 film of Brideshead Revisited; Clyvedon Castle in Bridgerton (2020–); and in Barry Lyndon (1975), The Buccaneers (1995), and Lady L (1965). These portrayals highlight its timeless allure, blending opulence with melancholy.
Preservation is family-led through Castle Howard Estate Limited, with National Heritage Lottery funding aiding restorations. The 2025 renovations enhance accessibility to hidden gems, reinforcing its role in education and tourism while addressing climate challenges via rewilding.

 

Current Status and Visitor Information

As of September 22, 2025, Castle Howard is open daily, with gardens and the Skelf Island Adventure Playground from 10am (9am for members), and the house from 10am through October, transitioning to Christmas dressings in November–January. Ticket prices are available on the official website; entry supports conservation. Highlights include exploring fire-restored rooms, film locations, and 1,000 acres of grounds with statues, temples, and lakes—ideal for autumn walks.
Events feature Halloween festivities and a full calendar online. The estate won the 2025 Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, offering mobility aids, wheelchair access, and sensory guides. Luxurious cottages provide stays, and the site is dog-friendly in outdoor areas. Managed as a VisitEngland Quality Assured attraction, it balances public access with private residence, ensuring the Howard legacy endures.

 

Castle Howard as a film location

Castle Howard was the location of the feature film Barry Lyndon and the TV and cinema productions of Brideshead Revisited. It features as the fictional Carlyle Castle in the film Garfield 2. Castle Howard was also used as an important filming location in the television series Bridgerton.

Castle Howard's interiors portrayed those of Kensington Palace in the television series Victoria.